Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Box Score on Aug 20, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 20, 2017

SAN DIEGO -- Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker hinted Saturday that he might give Daniel Murphy the entire weekend off to rest his sore legs.

Fortunately for the Nationals, the plans changed.

Murphy drove in two runs Sunday and left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez held the Padres to five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings as the National League East leaders scored a 4-1 victory at Petco Park. Washington won three of the four games in a weekend series.

Gonzalez (12-5) spotted the Padres a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the first inning before retiring 19 of the last 23 Padres he faced.

Meanwhile, Murphy was tying the game with a sacrifice fly in the third and hit a tie-breaking single two innings later off Padres right-handed rookie starter Dinelson Lamet (7-5).

The Padres scored in the bottom of the first on back-to-back one out singles by Jabari Blash and Jose Pirela and a two-out throwing error by Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo. Blash scored from second on the error as Difo's throw on Wil Myers' grounder was wide of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Lamet struggled with his command during the first three innings -- issuing six walks with 34 of his first 70 pitches called balls.

Lamet walked Gonzalez to open the third. With one out, Gonzalez moved to third on Difo's double just beyond the reach of left fielder Pirela and scored on a sacrifice fly. Lamet walked the next two hitters and went to a full count on Anthony Rendon before striking out the third baseman with the bases loaded.

But the Nationals broke through with two runs in the fifth after Alejandro De Aza opened the inning with a bunt single and stole second. After Difo struck out, Murphy pulled a single to right, easily scoring De Aza.

With two out and a runner on second, Padres manager Andy Green summoned left-handed reliever Buddy Baumann to face the left-handed Adam Lind. The strategy failed as Lind doubled home Murphy to make it 3-1. Lamet allowed three runs on three hits and six walks with eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Murphy played Sunday after resting his legs Saturday night. Before Saturday's game Baker said if he also rested Murphy on Sunday, it would give the veteran second baseman three days off with the Nationals idle Monday before opening a series in Houston Tuesday.

The Nationals scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth on a ground out by pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick to make it 4-1.

NOTES: Nationals OF Jayson Werth and SS Trea Turner will both start rehab assignments Monday with Triple-A Syracuse. Turner has been on the disabled list since June 30 with a right wrist fracture. Werth has been out since June 5 with a contusion to his left foot. ... The first three innings were played in an hour and 15 minutes. ... The Padres finished the homestand 4-3 after opening it with a three-game sweep of the Phillies.